Bracket securing panels to backing



Nov. 29, 1966 F. KORN 3,287,71

BRACKET SECURING PANELS TO BACKING Filed Aug. 5, 1963 1 NVEN TOR. FRED KoRN United States Patent 3,287,871 BRACKET SECURING PANELS T0 BACKING Fred Korn, Chicago, 111., assignor to United States Mineral Wool Company, Stanhope, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 299,918 1 Claim. (Cl. 52509) This invention relates to a bracket, and more particularly to a bracket for securing surfacing panel units to a supporting surface, and their combination with acoustical and/ or decorative wall and ceiling surfacing panel units.

Such panel units are commonly installed by providing interlocking, overlapping joints in adjacent panel units which can be nailed to a surface, the joint and fastener being covered by the adjacent panel unit. However, this method of installation has many disadvantageous features, for example, being fastened to the surface by the edge of only one of the adjacent panel units, the weight of the adjacent panel unit is supported by the interlocking joint alone which often weakens from the strain of the weight of the units and, after a period of time, permits the interlocking joint to disengage permitting the panels to sag, buckle and fall from the supporting structure. Frequently, such conditions can be remedied only by replacing the panel units or by inserting fasteners through the surface of the panel unit, thus detracting from the aesthetic and decorative effects of the units.

Hence, there is a presently existing need for a means and method by which acoustical and/ or decorative Wall and ceiling surfacing panel units can be secured to a supporting surface or backing without relying solely on the strength of the interlocking joints of adjacent panel units.

Therefore, it is one object of the present invention to provide a device for securing surfacing panel units to a backing, said device being hidden from view after installation of the units.

It is another object of this invention to provide a surface of panel units secured to a supporting surface with a device therefor independent of the strength of the interlocking joint formed by adjacent surfacing panel units.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view diagrammatically illustrating the application of brackets of this invention in securing surfacing panel units to a supporting structure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded view of adjacent surfacing panel units illustrating their positioning and the placing and fastening of the bracket in securing the units to a supporting surface.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section of several panel units secured by the use of brackets of the present invention and the positioning of another panel.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating the panel units secured to a backing by the brackets of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 of another embodiment of the bracket of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, bracket 10 of the present invention comprises a substantially double L-shaped member composed of sheet material, which may be plastic, but is preferably composed of rigid sheet material, such as sheet metal. This double L-shaped member can be formed from a rectangular strip of sheet material bent at right angles along spaced parallel lines 11 and 12 providing two legs 13 and 14 and a riser 15. One leg 14 of bracket 10 terminates in a serrated or toothed edge 16. Leg 13 preferably is substantially longer than leg 14. It is also preferred that riser 15 be perpendicular to legs 13 and 14.

ICC

In the application of the brackets of the present invention various types of surfacing panel units may be utilized and which conventionally are of light weight cellular material. However, the brackets of the present invention are particularly useful in securing Wall and ceiling acoustical and decorative panel units 17 having an adjacent pair of undercut back flanges 18, and an adjacent pair of overhanging face flanges 19, the flange 18 of one panel unit and the flange 19 of an adjacent panel unit being disposed to form a lap-joint therebetween. For utilizing these panel units, it is preferred that riser 15 of bracket 10 have a height approximately equal to the thickness of flanges 18 of the said units. The following description of the application of brackets 10 will utilize such preferred panel units.

In securing surfacing panel units 17 to supporting surface or backing 20 utilizing brackets 10 of the present invention, a first unit 21, which usually is a corner unit and can be identical to unit 17 as illustrated in FIG. 1, is secured to backing 20 either by known means or as hereinafter described. It is within the scope of the present invention to secure the first unit 21 to supporting surface 20 by fastening one or a plurality of brackets 10 through leg 13 directly to the supporting surface 20 and thereafter forcing the first surfacing panel unit 21 against brackets 10 as will be subsequently described.

After the first unit 21 is secured, one or a plurality of brackets 10 are placed at spaced intervals along the undercut back flame 18 on at least one edge of unit 21 by inserting leg 13 of brackets 10 between the said flange 18 and the backing 20 until riser 15 abuts the edge of flange 18. Suitable fastener means, such as a nail or screw (not shown), and preferably a staple is driven through flange 18 and into backing 20 at a point on flange 18 positioned so that the fastener means 22 will pass through leg 13 of bracket 10 securing both the flange and the bracket 10 to backing 20. The next surfacing panel unit 17 is secured by holding the unit 17 against supporting surface 20 and forcing one edge thereof having an overhanging face flange 19 against undercut back flange 18 of the preceding surfacing panel unit. This forces the serrated edge 16 of leg 14 of the bracket 10 into the body of panel unit 17 being secured at the junction 23 of overhanging face flange 19 thereof, until the body of the panel 24 abuts the riser 15 of the bracket 11 and the overhanging face flange 19 of one unit covers at least a substantial portion of flange 18 of the preceding unit and the head of the fastener means or the hole or mark left therein, forming a lap-joint therebetween. This operation is repeated inserting brackets 10 under the flange 18 of the previous unit and abutting the succeeding unit until the portion of supporting surface 20 desired to be covered is covered with surfacing panel units 17.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 6, the bracket 30 is substantially the same as the bracket 10 heretofore described in that it comprises a substantially double L-shaped member having two legs 33 and 34 and a riser 35, but additionally leg 33 has its teeth formed with longitudinally extending ridges 36. The serrated edge formed of longitudinally ridged teeth provides greater strength and holding effects in the surfacing panel units, than does the previously described serrated edge.

Although I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the details thereof without departing from its scope as comprehended by the following claim.

I claim:

A surface composed of a plurality of rectangular panels secured to a backing, each of said panels including an adjacent pair of overhanging face flanges and an adjacent pair of undercut back flanges, an overhanging flange of one of said panels overlying an undercut flange of an adjacent panel to form a lap-joint therebetween, and at least one bracket disposed Within the confines of each lap-j0int, said brackets being of substantially double L- shape With one of their legs of serrated edge character, said serrated leg being projected into the body of one panel at the junction of its overhanging face flange, and the 0pposed leg overlying the rear of the undercut back flange of an adjacent panel, and fastener means extending from said undercut flange through its overlying bracket and into said backing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,448 2/1938 Welch 20-92 5 2,319,129 5/1943 Hamilton 52-509 2,779,978 2/ 1957 Sundelin 52-489 2,913,776 11/1959 Rugen 52-489 10 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Examiner. 

